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The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) and Mom365 released a new whitepaper titled Direct Marketing to Moms. The joint study by Mom365 and the DMA is the first study of its kind on direct marketing behavior and attitudes of new mothers.

Arlington, Va. -- A report released Thursday by the Retail Industry Leaders Association found significant increases in shoplifting and pharmacy theft, in particular. According to RILA’s 2011 Crime Trends and Leading Practices Survey, more than half of respondents reported an increase in the frequency with which organized rings committed shoplifting, and 41% saw an increase in shoplifting by individuals acting alone. Sixty-four percent of respondents reported an increase in theft of pharmaceutical products. According to the survey results, online marketplaces continue to be a favored venue for the resale of stolen product. A majority of retailers (61%) experienced an

If you’re feeling nostalgic for the old Winnipeg Jets logo, you better move fast. True North Sports & Entertainment, which owns the latest incarnation of Winnipeg’s NHL franchise, has bought the trademarks for the original team’s logos from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s and retailers say once their current stock of retro T-shirts, hats and jerseys runs out, they won’t be available for an indefinite time.

Ross Dress for Less will celebrate its initial entry into the greater Chicago area with the grand opening of 12 stores on Saturday, Oct. 8. "The opening of these 12 locations kicks off our entrance into the Midwest and our commitment to the greater Chicago area," said Michael O'Sullivan, president and COO for Ross Stores.

The 2011 holiday season can be summed up in one word: average. On the heels of a holiday season that outperformed most analysts' expectations, holiday retail sales for 2011 are expected to increase 2.8 percent to $465.6 billion, according to the National Retail Federation.

The Bon-Ton Stores Inc.'s September revenue at stores open at least a year dropped 3.6 percent, with weak performances from its furniture, traditional ladies' sportswear and intimate apparel categories. This figure is a key indicator of a retailer's health because it excludes results from stores recently opened or closed. Bon-Ton, which runs department stores and furniture galleries, said Thursday that its results were also hurt by increased prices on some of its ladies' and men's clothing. The higher prices were prompted by cost increases, Tony Buccina, vice chairman and president for merchandising, said in a statement. Many clothing companies

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp. reported Wednesday that net income for the fourth quarter rose 11% to $478 million, compared with $432 million in the year-ago period. The warehouse club operator also said it is hiking its membership fees 10% as it tries to keep its prices on products low to drive sales and traffic. Revenue rose 17% for the quarter to $28.18 billion. The company opened 20 new warehouse clubs during the year. It plans to open 20 stores in the coming year, about half in the United States.

Jungle Smokes, a cigar company offering hand-rolled cigars from Honduras, has launched an internet store allowing consumers to buy cigars online. The new store was unveiled this summer by co-owners Pete McGough and Rory Johnson. They launched the website to offer the cigars online so that more people could enjoy the flavor and quality of 100 percent hand-rolled Honduran cigars.

City of Industry, Calif. -- Hot Topic said Wednesday that Mark Mizicko has joined the company as its senior VP planning and allocation. Mizicko will lead the merchandise planning and allocation teams for both the Hot Topic and Torrid brands. He most recently served as VP marketing and logistics for Gymboree.

It seems the Australian chain store GASP may be shuttering the location where a salesperson yelled at a shopper for failing to grasp the genius of a garment that resembles a "dead flamingo."